"The launching site which is evaluated to be the most strategic from where satellites could be launched directly into orbit is inside the conservation area of Taman Buru Gunung Nanua," said Rendra Regen, team leader of Enggano resort of the Bengkulu Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA), on Thursday.
The satellite launching site was being planned in the area by the Indonesian National Outer Space Aviation Institute (LAPAN), but the preliminary studies were being done by Bengkulu Research and Development Board, added Rais.
Taking a group of journalists on a tour of the area, Rais said besides the location inside Taman Buru Gunung Nanua, Bengkulu Research and Development Board has pinpointed two other sites located close to Kioyo Nature Reserve at Enggano island, off western coast of southern Sumatra.
"In addition to the disturbance on the area`s ecosystem, (the planned launching sites) would certainly eliminate fishermen`s access to the coastal areas as the area would be made sterile from communities," Rais said.
He said that results from the preliminary research by the research and development board has indicated that the two launching sites would require a minimum 2,500 hectares (5kmx5Km) of land and an additional strip of land spanning between 2-3kms for the launching pad and the telemetry and tracking equipments.
The projects would also need a resident settlement control zone with a radius of 4.0 or 5.0kms.
Besides limiting fishermen`s access, Rais also cited concerns for the impacts on two species of birds which are endemic to Enggano island, namely owl (Otus engganesis) and spectacle bird (Zoosterps salvadori).
Rais explained that the existence of the two bird species has made Enggano an important bird area (IBA) and endemic bird area (EBA).
Another species, crooked beak bird, even until now has not yet been known of its characteristics, population habitat at Enggano.
Out of the total 85 crooked beak birds in Indonesia, one species has its habitat at Engano which is the long-tailed parrot (Psittacula longicauda). (*)
KR-VFT/HAJM/H-YH
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
